The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-14
AN AMERICAN NAVY.


Tho Grand Advance Which Has Been
Made by . Democratic Administration
in Giving 1t to the Country.
In the main, such provisions have
been made as to justify the declaration
that the country has at last new
navy in progress, of which it may be
proud.
First of all come the new steel YES
sells, the Dolphin, Boston. Atlanta and
Chicago, of which the first named is
complete, the two next substantially
finished, and the last capable of being
soon put to sea if needed. These were
the experimental vessels in the new
navy; but of the Chicago there is some
reason to hope much, while all four,
though of far too little speed, yet mark
an advance upon the former era.
Next come three additional cruisers,
which are expected to be among
the fastest of their class in the world,
the Bal timore, Charleston and Newark,
of which the two former are now un-
der construction, and the latter soon
will be, since the Navy bill provides for
the needed increase of expenditure.
The advance in this second group of
cruisers, in the matter of speed, is
shown by the fact that while the Chi
cago, of $500 tons displacement, is re-
quired to get 5000 horse power from
it's 937 tons of machinery, the Newark,
of but 1850 tons displacement, is re-
quired to get 5000 horse power from
only 820 tons of machinery. A COM
parison of the Charleston and Baltimore
with the Atlanta and Boston will show
a similar advance.
To these seven vessels must now be
added the two cruisers provided for
under the new Navy bill, which are to
make nineteen knots an hour and may
cost 81, 100000 each. Heavy premiums
| and penalties for every quarter knot of
speed above or below this maxim um
are to be put in the contracts. Be-
sides the new cruisers, we find four
fast gun-boats, two of these of LOO
tons and $40 tons displacement, re-
spectively, being already under con-
struction, and the remaining two,
which are of the larger type, provided
for in the new bill. There is also
under construction pneumatic dyna-
mite gun-boat, which is expected to
have speed of twenty knots, and
which will throw from its three tubes
projectiles containing each 200 pounds
of some powerful high explosive. Still
another addition authorized is a tor
pedo vessel, at maximum cost of
500, 900, which is not yet designed.
More important than any of the YES
sells yet named are the two armored
| cruisers authorized at the first session
of the late Congress. They will be OF
about 5000 tons displacement, heavily
armored, with powerful batteries. and
having speed of at least sixteen knots.
The sum allowed for these fine line-of-
battle ships is 81, 500, 900 each, and the
chief delay in their construction is due
to the necessity of providing suitable
armor. The Navy bill makes the very
handsome appropriation of $4,000, 600
exclusively for armor and gun steel for
these two vessels and for the double
turret monitors. These monitors, in
turn, five in number, the Purital, AM
| phitrite, Monadnock. Terror and Man
tonomoh, must now at last be reckoned
as part of the effective navy, since
while their size and other peculiarities
will make them of limited service they
will undoubtedly perform certain
function in coast defense. Such armor
as the Miantonomoh will carry nc
doubt can easily be shot through by
modern guns of by no means the
largest caliber, but she may prove Of
some service in harbor defense. Fol
the completion of these monitors, ex.
appropriates So, 420. 900, and for guns
for these vessels and the others already
named it appropriates 81, ,128,362.
The record is not ended yet, since
the new act provides $1,000, 900 toward
floating batteries or rams for coast and
harbor defense, the final cost con.
templated being $4,000. 900 exclusive Of
armSment. 1t also makes $50, ,00(
available for purchasing and testing
naval torpedoes, and further appro.
priation of $4,000 is granted for buy.
ing the Stilleto for use as torpedo
boat. The appropriations thus men.
toned are exclusive of those made to
the Naval Ordnance Bureau for it.
ordinary work in the manufacture O.
cannon, though in this latter the set
ting apart of 500, 400 for pu' chasing
three steel-cast, rough-bored. six-inch
high-power rifle cannon, one of Bes
semer, one of open-hearth and one o
crucible steel, is worthy of special note
As the matter sums up, then, WI
find here an entirely new navy, bull
according to modern methods, eithe
in process of construction or author
lied, comprising one steel dispatcl
boat, eight cruisers, four gun-boats
one dynamite gun-boat, two torpedo
boats, two armored line-of-battle ships
five monitors and probably two floating
batteries or steel rams. These twenty
five steel and iron vessels may fairl,,
be considered the foundation of on
navy of the future.-M. Y. Tunes.
Philip Karner lived the life of
social recluse in East Greenbush, N
Y, and died alone and apparently il
agony. 1t was not until his will wa
read distributing an estate of 800.
600 that his relatives became inter
ested, and there are now nine lawer
representing fifty-two heirs contestin,
the viii